Pivoting Bird Feeder Hanger for Stable Filling and Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many bird feeders are difficult to clean and fill due to their design, which often results in spillage and sacrifices aesthetic appeal and quality.
Innovation Solution
A bird feeder design featuring a wide mouth opening, a planar surface, and a hanger assembly that can pivot to a folded position, allowing for stable inversion and easy filling and cleaning without obstructing the surface, combined with a basin assembly for nectar dispensing and ant moat features to attract various bird species.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bird feeder is designed with traditional shapes for the top and hanger, then the aesthetic appearance and quality of design are improved, but the user is unable to stabilize the bird feeder during filling and cleaning, resulting in increased spillage and difficulty of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is designed to pivot between a hanging position and a folded position against the planar surface. This dynamic transformation allows the hanger to serve dual purposes: providing aesthetic hanging functionality when extended, and collapsing out of the way when folded to enable stable placement on a flat surface during filling and cleaning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger assembly is segmented into a hanger portion and a connecting portion that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the hanger portion to pivot independently, enabling it to be positioned in either the hanging configuration for display and use, or the folded configuration for stable surface placement during maintenance
2Ease of operation
If the bird feeder is designed with a narrow opening and traditional bottle shape, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the user experiences difficulty in filling and cleaning, resulting in increased loss of time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The opening of the bottle is designed with a larger diameter compared to traditional bird feeder openings. This parameter change facilitates easier pouring of nectar during filling and simplifies cleaning operations by allowing easier insertion of cleaning tools and better access for washing, thereby reducing the time and effort required for maintenance
3Ease of operation
If the hanger is designed to extend beyond the planar surface, then the hanging functionality is improved, but it obstructs the planar surface when the bird feeder is placed on a surface for filling and cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is designed with pivoting capability that allows it to dynamically change its position. When the bird feeder needs to be hung, the hanger extends beyond the planar surface to provide hanging functionality. When the bird feeder needs to be placed on a surface for filling or cleaning, the hanger pivots to fold against the planar surface, eliminating obstruction and enabling stable placement
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations described and claimed herein provide apparatuses and methods for facilitating filling and cleaning of bird feeders that are aesthetically pleasing and adaptable for attracting different types of birds. In one implementation, a bird feeder includes a proximal edge extending around a central line and defining a plane. An outer surface and an inner surface each extends distally from the plane. The inner surface is connected to the outer surface by the proximal edge. An opening is formed by the proximal edge and positioned on the plane. A hanger is disposed distal to and not intersecting the plane, and the hanger assembly has a hanging portion positioned on the central line.